[110812] in tlhIngan-Hol
Re: [tlhIngan Hol] With "joq" - how do we choose the right verb
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Alan Anderson)
Thu Aug 31 15:11:11 2017
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From: Alan Anderson <qunchuy@alcaco.net>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:55:02 -0400
To: Klingon language email discussion forum <tlhingan-hol@kli.org>
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On Thu, Aug 31, 2017 at 12:56 PM, Aur=C3=A9lie Demonchaux <
demonchaux.aurelie@gmail.com> wrote:
> While discussing on the "Learn Klingon" group on Facebook, we wondered ho=
w
> to choose the correct verb prefix when "joq" (and / or) is used in the
> object and / or subject of the sentence.
> [...]
> if it were just a "je" we'd use "DI-" without hesitating, or if it were a
> "ghap" we'd use "wI-", but with joq... ?
> Has it already been discussed at some point what to do when you can't
> determine whether a verb's object / subject is singular or plural ?
>
I don't think there is a prescriptive answer to this question. My instinct
is to avoid the situation, the way I often do with English sentences that
call for an assumption of gender when it's not important to the idea. (I
dislike the "singular they", but I don't have a problem making entire
sentences plural in order to use "they" and "them" instead of "he or she"
and "him or her".)
Failing that, I usually go with whatever is more likely to be the case. In
the {vIraS Hol tlhIngan Hol joq} example, I would arbitrarily call it
plural, mostly because I think most people who would reject learning French
would not be part of the audience.
-- ghunchu'wI'
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On T=
hu, Aug 31, 2017 at 12:56 PM, Aur=C3=A9lie Demonchaux <span dir=3D"ltr"><=
;<a href=3D"mailto:demonchaux.aurelie@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">demoncha=
ux.aurelie@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_qu=
ote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex=
"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div style=3D"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Wh=
ile discussing on the "Learn Klingon" group on Facebook, we wonde=
red how to choose the correct verb prefix when "joq" (and / or) i=
s used in the object and / or subject of the sentence.=C2=A0<br></div><div =
style=3D"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">[...]</div><div style=3D"f=
ont-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">if it were just a "je" we&=
#39;d use "DI-" without hesitating, or if it were a "ghap&qu=
ot; we'd use "wI-", but with joq... ?</div><div style=3D"font=
-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Has it already been discussed at some p=
oint what to do when you can't determine whether a verb's object / =
subject is singular or plural ?<br></div></div></blockquote><div><br>I don&=
#39;t think there is a prescriptive answer to this question. My instinct is=
to avoid the situation, the way I often do with English sentences that cal=
l for an assumption of gender when it's not important to the idea. (I d=
islike the "singular they", but I don't have a problem making=
entire sentences plural in order to use "they" and "them&qu=
ot; instead of "he or she" and "him or her".)<br><br>Fa=
iling that, I usually go with whatever is more likely to be the case. In th=
e {vIraS Hol tlhIngan Hol joq} example, I would arbitrarily call it plural,=
mostly because I think most people who would reject learning French would =
not be part of the audience.<br><br>-- ghunchu'wI'</div></div></div=
></div>
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